Ink fountain for printing presses



NOV. 4, 1930. c, ALGE 1,780,695

INK FOUNTAIN FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed Nov. 1, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l H. C. ALGER Nov. 4, 1930,

INK FOUNTAIN FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed Nov. 1, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 4, 1930 iEFl- HARLEY C. ALGER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO R. R. DONNELLEY 86 SONS COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS 'INK FOUNTAIN FOR PRINTING PRESSES Application filed November 1, 1928. Serial No. 316,557.

My invention relates, more particularly, to "ink fountains-of the construction illustrated in my pending application for U. S. Letters Patent Ser. No. 173,983, filed March 9, 1927,

and provided for continuously and uniformly feeding ink to the press rollers and comprising lneans, preferably in the form of a doctor-blade, cooperating with the fountain roller for the delivery of the ink from the latter to the press rolls and serving to prevent carrying of paper dust, and the like, from the printing mechanism back through the train of rolls to the ink in the fountain.

One of my objects is to so mount the blade, that it may be readily moved into and out of the position in which it cooperates with the fountain roller, to adapt the blade, when moved out of the cooperating position stated, to be readily cleansed and also to effect an interruption in the feed of ink from'the fountain roller which is especially desirable in making ready for the printing operation as it avoids the necessity of the making of prints in the determining of the proper adjustment of the fountain device for the desired distribution of the ink on the fountain roller, the operator being able, merely by observing the appearance of this roller, to determine whether or not the ink is properly distributed thereon.

Another object is to so mount the blade that it may be accurately set relative to the fountain roller.

Another object is to minimize the amount of ink which becomes backed up by the doctor blade adjacent its inner edge, to the end that alteration of the amount an d or disposition of the ink on the printing faces resulting from the varying of the flow of ink from the founink roll of a train thereof cooperating therewith.

tain roller, by change of adjustment of the Figure 2 is a section taken at the line 2-2 on Fig. 1 and viewed in the direction'of the arrow, showing diagrammatically in addition to the parts illustrated in this figure, a train of ink rolls which carry the ink to the printing cylinder; and

Figure 3, a view like Fig. 2 showing a modified form of construction. I

The embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 comprises an-ink reservoir 4 having an open side and at which an ink roller 5, constituting a fountain roller is located, this roller being fixed on a shaft 6 j ournalled in suitable bea-r-.

ings in the sides of the ink reservoir. The shaft 6 is provided withva sprocket 7 shown as driven by a sprocket chain 8 connected with a sprocket on a shaft 9 driven continuously by the means hereinafter described.

The roller 5 constitutes a partial closure for the above-referred-to open side of the reservoir and cooperates with a blade-forming plate 10 forming a portion of the bottom of the reservoir 4 this plate being adjustable at its forward edge toward and away from the roller 5 to vary the opening therebetween and I consequently the amount of ink carried out of the reservoir on the fountain roller 5,'by

adjusting screws 11 (one only of which isshown) having threaded engagement with a depending flange 12 on the bottom of the reservoir and hearing at their forward ends against the underside of the plate 10, which latter is inclined relative to the screws, the

plate 10 being preferably made of thin sheet.

metal so that it readily responds at any point in its lengthto. the pressure exerted by the adjusting screws 11 which latter are spaced at close intervals along the length of the plate.

Located adjacent to the fountain roller 5 is a train of ink rolls comprising rolls 13, 14, 15 and 16 which carry the ink from the fountain deviceto the printing cylinder 17. This train as shown is illustrative only and as many rolls may be used for this purpose as desired, these rolls being automatically driven in opposite directions by any suitable form of mechanism (not shown), the roll 13 being preferably driven in the same rotative direction as the fountain roller 5 so that their in a horizontal plane as adjacent surfaces are moving in opposite directions.

The ink carried up by the fountain roller 5 from the reservoir 4 is caused to be transferred therefrom to the train of rolls referred to, by a doctor blade 18 which, in operative position, extends downwardly into the space between the roller 5 and roll 13 and bears against the periphery of the roller 5, as shown, this doctor-blade operating to scrape most of the ink from the fountain roller 5 and to hold it in a liquid mass in contact with the roll 13 as shown, whereby the only contact which is had between the train of ink distributing rolls and the fountain roller 5 is through this liquid mass of ink which piles up at the lower edge portion of the blade.

The arrangement of the roller 5, roll 13, and doctor blade 18 as described is such that in combination with the ink-plate 10 a very uniform feed of ink and one which can be closely regulated and requiring relatively little attention, maybe effected.

The doctor blade 18, which extends substantially the full length of the roller 5, is connected, as by means of the screws 19, to the lower edge portion of a plate 20 which flatwise opposes, and is secured to, the upwardly extending flange 21 of an angle iron 22, this angle iron being connected at its horizontal flange 23 with a bar 24 which extends across the top of the reservoir 4 and is pivotally mounted thereon at depending arms 25 which are journalled upon studs 26 supported on the end walls of the,reservoir 4 exterior of the latter and non-coincident with the axis of the shaft 6, these studs being shown as located directly above this shaft.

The ends of the bar 24 are provided with stop screws 27 which bear at their lower ends against ears 28 carried by the end .walls of the reservoir 4.

The connection between the plate 20 and the angle iron 22 is such,that it adapts this plate for universal adjustment in a vertical plane, the particular connection shown comprising a plurality of screw devices 29 screwing into the flange 21 of the angle iron and extending through vertically-elongated slots 30 in the plate 20, the connection of the angle iron 22 with the bar 24 being such as to permit of universal adjustment of the angle bar by means of screws 31 screwing into the bar 24 and extending through elongated slots 32 in the angle iron 22. The combination of the adjustments just described permit of the accurate positioning of the doctor blade 18 relative to the fountain roller 5.

In the arrangement shown the doctor blade 18, plate 20, angle 22, and bar 24, in effect form a unitary structure-pivoted at the studs 26 adapting this structure to be readily swung into a position in which the doctor blade 18 is-removed from operative position,

handles 33 at opposite ends of the bar 24 facilitating the manipulation of the doctorblade-carrying structure as described, the center of gravity of the structure changing from the right to the left hand side of the pivots 26 in Fig. 2 in the movement of the bar 24 to the left in this figure to seating position upon the upper edges of the receptacle 4.

An advantage of providing the roller 5, roll 13 and doctor blade for cooperation therewith as described is that since there is no direct contact between the train of rolls and the fountain roller 5 little, if any, of the paper dust, and the like, which collects upon the distributing rolls is transmitted to the fountain roller 5 and thence to the ink in the reservoir; consequently the quality of the ink in the reservoir is not impaired even after long runs with the manifest advantage. Even should solid matter pass from the roll 13 to the body of ink adjacent the lower edge of the doctor blade 18, very little of it will pass this doctor blade, but instead remains in suspension in the body of'the ink just referred to and is later returned to the roll 13. v

The mounting of the doctor blade 18 as described and adapting it to be moved into and out of operative position at will presents the advantage of rendering it easily accessible for cleansing and also interrupts the transmission of ink fromthe fountain roller 5 to the train of rolls which is of especial advantage in the making ready of the printing apparatus for the printing operation.

It. has been found desirable to reduce to as great an extent as possible, consistent with the transfer of the desired amount of ink from the fountain roller to the train of rolls, the amount of ink which collects at the lower edge of the doctor blade due to the resistance of the latter, as the greater the quantity of this ink the longer time elapses before a change in the feed of ink from the fountain roller 5 is manifested at the printing surfaces, and to accomplish this I provide for the throttling of the space between the doctor blade and the roll 13 to whichthe ink is transferred from the fountain roller.

In the construction shown such throttling is effected by providing a filler-bar 34 which is secured to the face of the doctor blade 18 to extend substantially the full length of the latter and partially fill the space between this blade and the roll 13.

The mechanism shown also embodies means for varying the speed of the fountain roller 5 to serve as a means for varying the ink feed in addition to those already described, this mechanism comprising the shaft 9 journalled at one end in a bearing 35, the shaft 9 being splined at 36 and slidable in a hollow shaft 37 slidably journalled in a bearing 38. The shaft 37 contains an annular groove 39 in which operates a pin 40 carried by an arm 41, the latter be ing movable back and forth by means of a screw 42 for moving the shaft 37 toward and away from the bearing 35. The opposite end of the shaft 37 carries a friction wheel 43 which bears against a plate 44, the latter being slidably keyed on a shaft 45 which is journalled in bearings 46 and 47 and carries a sprocket 48 which is driven by a chain 49 from any suitable source of power (not shown). The plate 44 is yieldingly pressed against the friction wheel 43 by means of a spring 50. The speed of the shaft 37 and consequently the speed of rotation of the shaft 9 and the fountain roller 5 is decreased or increased by turning the shaft 42 in one direction ,or the other as the case may be to move the friction disk radially of the wheel Fig. 3 illustrates an embodiment of my invention in a fountain mechanism in which the ink is carried by the fountain roller to the transfer roller overthe top of the former I instead of over the bottom of the fountain roller as in Fig. 2.

In this construction the reservoir is represented. at 51 and the fountain roller at 52, this roller being rotated in the direction of the arrow in this figure and cooperating with a flexible ink plate 53, like the plate 10, adjustable at its forward edge relative to the periphery of the roller 52 by means of the adjusting at 54. the position of this plate determining the amount of inkwhich is carried over by the fountain roller 52. The roller 52 is shown as cooperating with a train of rolls 55, 56, 57 and 58 and a printing cylinder 59'corresponding with the rolls and printing cylin der 13 to 17 inclusive, respectively.

' In this construction the doctor blade represented at 60 and which extends upwardly into the space between the roller 52 and the roll 55 for efiecting the transfer of the-ink from the roller 52 to the roll 55, is supported on the upper edge-portion of a plate 61 connected with an angle iron 62 as explained of the plate 20, this angle iron being connected with a bar 63 as explained of the angle iron 22. The bar 63 is provided with upwardly extending legs 64 at the upper ends of which it is pivotally connected with studs 65 located on the exterior surfaces of the ends of the reservoir 51 and arranged eccentric to the axis of the shaft 66 on which the roller 52 is mounted.

devices one only of which is shown.

and carrying stop screws 69 engaged by the angle-iron 62. When it is desired to move the doctor-blade out of operative position the rods 67 are rotated to a position in which the stop screws 69 disengage from the angle 62 whereupon the doctor-blade-equipped structure swings out of operative position for the purposes above described.

While I have illustrated and described certain embodiments of my invention I do notwish to be understood as intending to limit it thereto as the same. may be variously modified and altered and the invention embodied in other forms of construction, without I departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In an ink fountain for printing rolls and the like, an ink reservoir, a fountain roller adapted to make contact with ink in said reservoir, a roll spaced a short distance from said roller, and means for transferring the ink from said roller direct to said roll, said means being movable into and out of operative position.

'2. In an ink fountain for printing rolls and the like, an ink reservoir, a fountain roller adapted to make contact with ink in said reservoir, from said roller, and a blade cooperating with said roller to scrape ink therefrom an cause it to be delivered direct to said roll, said blade being movable into and out of operative position.

3. In an ink fountain for printing rolls and the like, an ink reservoir, a fountain roller adapted to make contact with ink in said reservoir, a roll spaced a short distance from said roller, and a blade cooperating with said roller to scrape ink therefrom and to cause it to be delivered direct to said roll, said blade being pivotally mounted for movement into and out of operative position.

4. In an ink fountain for printing rolls and the like, an ink reservoir, a fountain roller adapted to make contact with ink in said reservoir, a roll spaced a short distance from said roller, and means for transferring the ink from said roller direct to said roll movable from a position in which it cooperates with the ink on said roller into a position in which it is out of contact with the ink on said roller and out of contact with said roll to render said means accessible for cleaning.

5. In an ink fountain for printing rolls and the like, an ink reservoir, a fountain roller adapted to make contact with ink in said reservoir, a roll spaced a short distance from said roller, and a blade cooperating with said roller to scrape 'mk therefrom and cause it to be delivered direct to said roll, said blade being movable from a position in which it cooperates with the ink on said roller into a position in which it is out of contact with the ink on said roller and out of contact with said roll to render said blade accessible for cleaning.

In an ink fountain for printing rolls and the like, an ink reservoir, a fountain roller adapted to make contact with ink in said reservoir, a roll spaced a short distance from said roller, and a blade cooperating with said roller to scrape ink therefrom and cause it to be delivered direct to said roll, said blade being pivotally mounted closely adjacent the axis of said roller for movement into and out of operative position.

7. In an ink fountain for printing rolls and the like, an ink reservoir, a fountain roller adapted to make contact with ink in said reservoir, a roll spaced a short distance from said roller, and a blade cooperating with said roller to scrape ink therefrom and cause it to'be delivered direct to said roll, said blade being pivotally mounted closely adjacent to, and eccentric of, the axis of said roller for movement into and out of operative position.

8. In an ink fountain for printing rolls and the like, an ink reservoir, a fountain roller adapted to make contact with ink in said reservoir, a roll spaced a short distance from said roller, a support comprising members relatively adjustable in one plane and a blade supported on the adjustable one of said memrs in-a plane at an angle to said first-named plane and cooperating with said roller to scrape ink therefrom and cause it to be delivered to said roll.

9. In an ink fountain for printing rolls and-the like, an ink reservoir, a fountain roller adapted to make contact with said ink in said reservoir, a roll spaced a short distance from said roller, means for transferring the ink from said roller to said roll, and adjustable stop means engageable by said firstnamed means for determining the position of the latter relative to said roller, said firstnamed means being movable into and out of operative position without disturbing the position of said stop means.

10. In an ink fountain for printing rolls and the like, an ink reservoir, a fountain roller adapted to make contact with said ink in said reservoir, a roll spaced a short distance from said roller, a support having a blade adjustably mounted thereon for cooperation with said roller to scrape ink therefrom and cause it to be delivered to said roll, and stop means engageable by said support for determining the position of the blade relative to said roller, said support being movable for movement of the blade thereof into and out of operative position without disturbing the position of said stop means.

11. In an ink fountain for printing rolls andthe like, an ink reservoir, a fountain roller adapted to make contact with ink in said reservoir, a roll spaced a short distance from said roller, a blade cooperating with said rollor to scrape ink therefrom and cause it to be delivered to said roll, and means whereby a relatively narrow space for the piling up of the ink between said blade and said roll is provided.

12. In an ink fountain for printing rolls and the like, an ink reservoir, a fountain roller adapted to make contact with ink in said reservoir, a roll spaced a short distance from said roller, a blade cooperating with said roller to scrape ink therefrom and cause it to be delivered to said roll, and a member located adjacent the operative edge of said blade and opposing the periphery of said roll the surface of said member opposing said roll being of substantial curve shape and substantially concentric with said roll, for the purpose set forth.

13. In an ink fountain for printing rolls and the like, an ink reservoir, a fountain roller adapted to make contact with ink in said reservoir, a roll spaced a short distance from said roller, and a blade edgewise positioned in the valley between said roll and roller and operating to scrape ink from said roller and cause it to be delivered to said roll, said blade being movable into and out of operative position.

14:. In an ink fountain for printing rolls and the like, an ink reservoir, a fountain roller adapted to make contact with ink in said reservoir, a roll spaced a short distance from said roller, and a blade edgewise positioned in the valley between said roll and roller and operating to scrape ink from said roller and cause it to be delivered to said roll, said blade being pivotally mounted for movement into and out of operative position.

15. In an ink fountain for printing rolls and the like, an ink reservoir, a fountain roller adapted to make contact with ink in said reservoir, a roll spaced a short distance from said roller, and a blade edgewise positionedin the valley between said roll and roller and operating to scrape ink from said roller and cause it to be delivered to said roll, said blade being movable from a position in which it cooperates with the ink on said roller into a position in which it is out of contact with the ink on said roller and out of contact with said roll to render said blade accessible for cleanin v 'g HARLEY C. ALGER. 

